PREPARATION OF ESSENTIAL OIL

2.1 Sample preparation

2.1.1 Planting Materials

           

            Pelargonium radula was obtained from a nursery at Hulu Langat, Selangor.

            2.1.2        Hydrodistillation of Pelargonium radula

      2.1.2.1 The whole fresh plant was cut into small pieces and then being weight. The weighed plant was             put inside the round bottom flask.

2.1.2.2  Steam distillation apparatus set was set up as shown in Figure 1.

2.1.2.3  1 – 2 kg Pelargonium radula plant was used in a steam distillation set showed in Picture 1 at MARDI lab to obtain 3- 5 ml of essential oil.

2.1.2.4  Distilled water was added to the plant with ratio 1:2.

2.1.2.5  The distilling flask was put on your heating mantel. Do not use a plastic                              clamp to hold your distilling flask to the adapter.

2.1.2.6  The distillation was stopped after 6 – 8 hours.

2.1.2.7  The volume of the distillate was recorded.

2.1.2.8  Purification was done afterwards in which the distillate was added with sodium carbonate to remove water. Nitrogen gas was used to purify the essential oil.

Figure 1: Hydrodistillation apparatus

Picture 1: Hydrodistillation set at MARDI, Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan

2.1            Preparation of Essential Oil Formulation

2.1.2        Using the extract collected from the hydrodistillation process, 1%, 3% and 5% concentration of the extraction was prepared.

2.2.1        For 1% concentration, 100µl of the extract was taken using a 20-200µl micro-pipette and placed inside a small bottle.

2.2.2        Then, 900µl of glycerol was added using a 100-1000µl micro-pipette and 9ml of water was poured using a burette into the same small bottle.

2.2.3        The solution was shaken well.

2.2.4        Step 2 to 4 was repeated for 3% of concentration by taking 300µl of the extract and 700µl of glycerol using a 100-1000µl micro-pipette and about 9ml of water was added using a burette. For 5% of concentration, both the extract and glycerol consumed only about 500µl each using a 100-1000µl micro-pipette before 9ml of water was added using a burette.

2.3      Methods to capture flies

2.3.1        An aquarium was acquired and the cap was opened.

2.3.2        The aquarium with aluminum foil was covered and an average or small hole at the centre of the aquarium was made.

2.3.3        The aquarium was put in an upside-down position with some distance from the opening to the ground.

2.3.4        Rotten meat or food was put inside it

2.3.5        The set was left for an hour.

2.3.6        After one hour, steps 1 to 5 were repeated twice using another different aquarium.

Figure 2 : Method of capturing flies

2.4 Methods to remove aluminum foil from the aquarium

2.4.1    With aquarium in an upside-down condition, the cap was placed under the aluminum foil.

2.4.2        The aluminum foil was unfolded slowly and prepared to take it off.

2.4.3        The aluminum foil was pulled immediately and the aquarium was closed using its lid quickly to prevent the flies fly away.

2.4.4        The aquarium was placed in its normal condition and the aquarium was cleaned using a wet clothes and was dried using a dry clothes to remove the smell or stinks from the rotten meat.

2.4.5        The aquarium was ready to be used.